Sociology Exam 2

Structured social inequality, or, systematic inequalities between groups of people that
arise as intended or unintended consequences of social processes and relationships.

Social Classification of Differences

Stratification

A nearly universal system involving the subordination of femininity to masculinity.

Patriarchy

The natural or biological differences that distinguish males from females.

Sex

Denotes a social position, the set of social arrangements, built around sex categories.
How people make sense of sex differences

Gender

What are the 3 Contemporary Conceptions
of Sex and Gender?

Biological Determinism, Nurture, Dialectical.

A line of thought that explains social behavior in terms of biological givens.

Biological Determinism

Behavior, trans-sexuality

Nurture (Pure Socialization)

A two-directional relationship, one that goes both ways. Nature and Nurture are dialectical.

Dialectical

Dominant and privileged, if invisible, category of men.

Hegemonic masculinity

Sets of behavioral norms assumed to accompany one’s status as a male or female.

Gender roles

A social space where young men are caught between adolescence and adulthood.

Guyland

What are the characteristics of the men who occupy Guyland?

-Males between 16-26

-Mostly whites

-Middle-class kids

-College-bound, in college or have recently graduated.

-Unmarried

-Live with other guys in dorms, apartments or frats.

What are the norms and practices of Guyland?

-Drinking, sex and video games.

-Watching sports, reading about sports, listening to sports in the radio.

An intellectual, consciousness-raising movement to get people to understand that gender is an organizing principle of life; the underlying belief is that women and men should be accorded equal opportunities and respect.

Feminism

When a person’s sex or gender is the basis for judgment, discrimination, and hatred against him or her.

Sexism

Refers to the unpaid housework that women typically do after they come
home from their paid jobs.

Second Shift

Women want hookups to “evolve into some semblance of a relationship,” while Men prefer to “hook up with no strings attached.

Battle of the Sexes view of Sexuality

The social identity of a person who has sexual attraction to and/or relations with other persons of the same sex.

Homosexuality

Cultural ideas about appropriate sex based on
heterosexual standards

Heteronormativity

Degree of closeness that people are willing to tolerate in their interactions with stigmatized groups.

Social Distance

Formation of a new racial identity, in which new ideological boundaries of difference are
drawn around a formerly unnoticed group of people

Racialization

The belief that members of separate races possess different and unequal traits. Racist thinking is characterized by three beliefs:

Dominant lens through which whites understand contemporary race relations; the belief
that segregation and discrimination are no longer an issue because it is now
illegal for individuals to be denied access to housing, or jobs because of their race; assumes equal opportunity; meritocracy.

Color-Blindness

Everyone is equal in the eyes of God

Ontological Equality

Everyone has equal opportunity to succeed in life because the rules of the game are fair
and apply to everyone.

Equality of Opportunity

Everyone should have an equal starting point and the rules of the game should be altered
to enable this.

Equality of Condition

Everyone should end up with the same amount regardless of the fairness of the game.

Equality of Outcome

The assumption that other people will do the work and everyone at the end receives
the same amount.

Free-Rider Problem

An individual or group’s movement between different positions in society (In different social classes or job statuses)